Virtual storage system and methods of copying electronic documents into the virtual storage system

ABSTRACT

A virtual storage system in data communication with a user computing device via a communication network and methods of selectively or automatically copying electronic documents to a virtual storage system where the virtual storage system includes at least one processor configured to process, encrypt and copy electronic documents retrieved from an external system, and a plurality of redundant physical storage devices in data communication with the at least one processor and each configured to store the electronic documents retrieved from the external system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to co-pending application entitled“Virtual Storage System and Method of Sharing Electronic Documentswithin the Virtual Storage System” by Ronald M. Daly, Jr. et al. filedon Jan. 28, 2013; co-pending application entitled “Virtual StorageSystem and File Encryption Methods” by Ronald M. Daly, Jr. et al. filedon Jan. 28, 2013; and co-pending application entitled “Virtual StorageSystem and File Storing Method” by Ronald M. Daly, Jr. et al. filed onJan. 28, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a virtual storage system. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a virtual storage systemand methods of copying electronic documents into the virtual storagesystem.

2. Description of the Related Art

Virtual storage systems have become a popular alternative for storingfiles, thereby eliminating the need to install physical storage devicesand minimizing file storage costs. A virtual storage system is an onlinestorage system where data is stored in virtual storage pools. The poolsare hosted by third parties that operate large data centers. The thirdparties virtualize resources in servers and present the resources asvirtual storage pools for users to store files, for example. The virtualstorage system is accessed through a web application programminginterface (API), a gateway or a Web-based user interface (UI), forexample. A typical virtual storage system (e.g., a cloud-type storagesystem) has several disadvantages which create security concerns. Forexample, the storage location of the files stored therein may be unknownto both third party hosting companies and/or users of the virtualstorage system. In addition, the typical virtual storage system can beeasily accessed over a communication network (e.g., the Internet) usingsimple single-factor authentication processes for access thereof. Thetypical virtual storage system does not encrypt files that are stored ontheir servers which makes the files easily visible to internal employeesand hackers. Further, the typical virtual storage system is not PciCompliant (PCI DSS) a proprietary information security standard fororganizations that handle cardholder information for the major debit,credit, prepaid, e-purse, ATM, and POS cards. Further, once any file isstored on the virtual storage system they become property of the virtualstorage system provider and are no longer user-owned; therefore thefiles can be used for other purposes, such as data mining without userpermission.

Online banking systems provide resources to enable users to conductbanking transactions electronically from a personal computer, forexample. Online banking transactions include monitoring accounts,conducting money transfers, applying for loans, submitting loanpayments, etc. However, users are required to visit the bank in person,to conduct certain transactions such as depositing documents into a safedeposit box which is an individually secured container held in a bankvault, for example. The safe deposit box is used to store valuablepossessions, such as jewelry, currency, marketable securities, andimportant documents (e.g., bank statements, wills, passports, propertydeeds, insurance policies, photographs and birth certificates). Bankpersonnel typically open the bank vault with a key and a user isrequired to produce an assigned key to open the safe deposit box.

Currently, online banking systems fail to allow users to store importantdocuments electronically, and also fail to allow users to retrieve, viewand share these documents electronically outside of the bankenvironment, when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages byproviding a virtual storage system that encrypts and copies electronicdocuments retrieved from an external system (e.g., an online bankingsystem), to thereby enable a user to store important documents in aknown storage location within the virtual storage system.

The present invention relates to virtual storage system and methods ofselectively or automatically copying electronic documents (e.g., bankstatements) into the virtual storage system.

Further, the virtual storage system of the present invention employs amulti-factor authentication process for verifying user access rights,via a specifically-designed application programming interface (API), forexample, that can be installed at a user computing device, therebyproviding a maximum security level of file storage for the user.

The virtual storage system of the present invention is also PCICompliant following a proprietary information security standard to allowstorage of cardholder information for the major debit, credit, prepaid,e-purse, ATM, and POS cards.

In addition, the virtual storage system locks each file with encryptionas it is uploaded or copied, and only the user-owner holds the key(i.e., access rights) to retrieve the file, thereby leaving ownership ofthe file with the user-owner at all times and providing extra securityprotection from unauthorized individuals.

The present invention provides a virtual storage system in datacommunication with a user computing device via a communication network,which includes at least one processor configured to process, encrypt andcopy electronic documents retrieved from an external system, and aplurality of redundant physical storage devices in data communicationwith the at least one processor and each configured to store theelectronic documents retrieved from the external system.

Further, the present invention is a method implemented by computersystem to effect the copying of electronic documents into the virtualstorage system in data communication via a communication network, withan online document retrieval and storage system. The method includesreceiving input data at the online document retrieval and storage systemfrom a user at a computing device, via a communication network,requesting access to online account information, selecting and viewingan electronic document of the online account information to be copied,selecting a copy link within the electronic document, to copy theelectronic document, viewing a plurality of electronic folders of thevirtual storage system in a folder selection dialog, selecting via theuser, a specific folder of the plurality of electronic folders forreceiving and storing the electronic document selected, encrypting theelectronic document via the virtual storage system, and copying theelectronic document to the specific folder of the plurality ofelectronic folders.

Further, the present invention is a method implemented by a computersystem to effect the automatic copying of electronic documents into avirtual storage system in data communication via a communicationnetwork, with an online document retrieval and storage system. Themethod includes processing an electronic document associated with auser, at the online document retrieval and storage system, determiningwhether the user has access rights to the virtual storage system,encrypting the electronic document via the virtual storage system whenit is determined that the user has access rights to the virtual storagesystem, and automatically copying the electronic document to the virtualstorage system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of exampleembodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. Whilethe foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure focuseson disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearlyunderstood that the same is by way of illustration and example only andthe invention is not limited thereto, wherein in the following briefdescription of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a virtual storage system that can beimplemented within one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a virtual storage system that can beimplemented within alternative embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a virtual storage system that can beimplemented within alternative embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a virtual storage system that can beimplemented within alternative embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer to be implementedwithin one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selectively copyingelectronic documents into the virtual storage system of FIG. 1 accordingto one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically copyingelectronic documents into the virtual storage system of FIG. 1 accordingto one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a screen shot of a banking system that can be implementedwithin one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a screen shot of an exemplary electronic document that can beimplemented within one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a screen shot of an electronic folder selection operation ofFIG. 6 that can be implemented within one or more embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a screen shot of a copying operation of FIG. 6 that can beimplemented within one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a screen shot of the virtual storage system 100 of FIG. 1that can be implemented within one or more embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an exemplary physical storage system forimplementation of the virtual storage system in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. It willbe apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of thepresent invention may be practiced without some of these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. For example, systems,networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components inblock diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments inunnecessary detail. Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may bedescribed as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram,a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although aflowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many ofthe operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. Inaddition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process isterminated when its operations are completed, but could have additionalsteps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, afunction, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a processcorresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return ofthe function to the calling function or the main function.

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software,firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or anycombination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middlewareor microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessarytasks may be stored in a machine readable medium. A processor(s) mayperform the necessary tasks.

The present invention as will be described in greater detail belowprovides a method for copying electronic documents, (e.g., electronicbanking statements) into a virtual storage system and systemimplementing the method. The present invention provides variousembodiments as described below. However it should be noted that thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein,but could extend to other embodiments as would be known or as wouldbecome known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a virtual storage system implemented withinone or more embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a user at auser computing device 50 is configured to access, via a communicationnetwork 60, an external system i.e., an online document retrieval andstorage system such as a banking system 70 to perform online bankingtransactions, such as viewing bank accounts and bank statements,applying for loans, and other transactions. According to one or moreembodiments, the user computing device 50 includes at least one of amobile phone or smart phone, a personal computer or laptop, or apersonal digital assistant (PDA) or tablet. The present invention is notlimited to any particular type of user computing device 50, and may varyaccordingly.

The user accesses the banking system 70 by inputting input dataincluding identification and log-in information such as a user ID andpassword via a user interface (UI) of the user computing device 50. Oncethe identification/log-in information is received at a bankingapplication of the banking system 70, the banking system 70 retrievesthe user's banking information and displays the banking information viaa display of the user computing device 50. The banking system 70 isconfigured to receive the input data and provide the user withelectronic documents (e.g., bank statements) in webpage format or anyother format over the communication network 60. The banking system 70communicates via a communication network 80, with a virtual storagesystem 100 described in detail below.

The communication networks 60 and 80 include a wired or wireless networkfor data communication. The data communication across the communicationnetworks 60 and 80 is achieved by using web services technologyincluding for example, Web services Description Language (WSDL). Thecommunication networks 60 and 80 may include any subsystem forexchanging data such as the Internet, intranet, extranet, wide areanetwork (WAN), local area network (LAN), Restful web services,JAVAScript Object Notation (JSON), Extensible Mark-up Language(XML)-based communication network, Simple Object Access Protocol(SOAP)-based Services and satellite communication network. Further, thecommunication networks 60 and 80 can be other types of networks such asinteractive television (ITV). According to one or more embodiments, thecommunication networks 60 and 80 may be the same or different types ofnetworks.

The virtual storage system 100 is a user-specific storage system whichallows each user to have a secure access to their files stored withinthe virtual storage system 100. In addition, the virtual storage system100 encrypts each electronic document as it is retrieved from theexternal system, and only the user-owner can access the electronicdocument thereby leaving ownership of the files within the virtualstorage system 100 with the user-owner at all times.

According to one or more embodiments, the virtual storage system 100includes a web interface 122 for interfacing with the external system(i.e., the banking system 70) over the communication network 80. The webinterface 122 provides a secure connection to the virtual storage system100. According to one or more embodiments, the web interface 122 is aspecifically-designed application programming interface (API), forexample, which performs authentication of the user or the externalsystem (e.g., the banking system 70) at multiple levels. A secureconnection is made between the banking system 70 and the virtual storagesystem 100 on a transport layer level, for example. According to one ormore embodiments, a transport layer security (TLS) or secure socketslayer (SSL) cryptographic protocol may be employed to provide securecommunication over the communication networks 60 and 80. According toone or more embodiments, the web interface 122 is a web applicationprogramming interface (API), a gateway or a Web-based user interface(UI), for example.

According to one or more embodiments, the virtual storage system 100 isPCI Compliant to allow storage of cardholder information for the majordebit, credit, prepaid, e-purse, ATM, and POS cards. The virtual storagesystem 100 further includes at least one processor 124 for receivinginformation including requests from the user at the banking system 70and processing the requests, such as storing, retrieving and copyingelectronic documents. The virtual storage system 100 further includes atleast one storage server 125 comprising a plurality of physical storagedevices 126 for storing files such as documents, audio files,photographs, movies, and images received from the user via the bankingsystem 70. The virtual storage system 100 acts as a safe deposit box forreceiving and securely storing the files received from the user via thebanking system 70. Although only one processor 124 and two storagedevices 126 are shown, the present invention is not limited hereto, andmay vary accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual storage system 100 includes a webinterface (e.g., the web interface 122) however the present invention isnot limited to this particular configuration, and may vary accordingly.

FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate alternative configurations of the virtualstorage system 100, and communication between the virtual storage system100, the external system (e.g., the banking system 70), and/or the usercomputing device 50 according to other embodiments of the presentinvention that may be implemented. Some of the components shown in FIGS.2 through 4 are the same as the components discussed above withreference to FIG. 1 therefore a detailed description of these componentsis omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, in an alternative embodiment, the banking system 70includes a web interface 130 configured to interface the banking system70 with the virtual storage system 100 over the communication network80. The web interface 130 functions in a similar manner as the webinterface 122 of the virtual storage system 100 therefore in thisembodiment, the web interface 122 of the virtual storage system 100 isomitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, in another alternative embodiment, the usercomputing device 50 includes a web application 150 (e.g., a web API) forconnecting to the banking system 70 and the virtual storage system 100indirectly through the banking system 70. The web application 150 is aninternet-enabled application, for example, that has specificfunctionality for the user computing device 50 (e.g., a mobile phone).The web application 150 is accessed through a web browser of the usercomputing device 50 and does not require downloading and installingthereof onto the user computing device 50.

As shown in FIG. 4, in yet another alternative embodiment, the usercomputing device 50 includes a native application 160 for connectingdirectly to web services (i.e., the processor 124) of the virtualstorage system 100. The native application 160 is directly installed onthe user computing device 50 to allow the user to gain direct access tothe virtual storage system 100. The native application 160 is aspecifically-designed API for accessing the virtual storage system 100.For example, if the user computing device 50 is a tablet, the tablet mayinclude a tablet API for directly accessing the web services of thevirtual storage system 100. Therefore, in this embodiment, the webinterface 130 of the banking system 70 as shown in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2; and the web interface 122 of the virtual storagesystem 100 as shown in FIG. 3 are omitted.

According to one or more embodiments, the native application 160 mayinclude a multi-factor authentication process to be performed at manylevels to enable a user to gain direct access to the virtual storagesystem 100 from the user computing device 50. The multi-factorauthentication process may include steps such as sending logininformation (e.g., user ID and password information) in a correspondence(e.g., a text message or email) to the user, and providing a time-basedone-time password system to the user via a third party.

According to another embodiment, a single-factor authentication processmay be used to gain access to the virtual storage system 100 via theexternal system (e.g., the banking system 70) since the external systemand the virtual storage system 100 communicate via a secure connectionon the communication network 80.

It should be noted that the virtual storage system is implemented on aphysical storage system 1300 such as that illustrated in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 13, the physical storage system 1300 includes aplurality of host adapters (CHA) 1310, disk adapters (DKA) 1320, cachememories (CACHE) 1330, shared memories (SM) 1340, and hard disk drives(HDD) 1350 connected with each other via common paths 1360 andconnection lines 1370. Each of the hard disk drives (HDD) 1350 isconnected to two disk adapters 1320, for example, using differentconnection lines 1370. The host adapters 1310 control data transferbetween host computers 1380, the cache memories 1330 and the hard diskdrives 1350. The cache memories 1330 temporarily store data receivedfrom the host computer 1380 and data read from the hard disk drives1350. The shared memories 1340 are shared between the host adapters 1310and the disk adapters 1320. The present invention is not limited to anyparticular number of host adapters 1310, disk adapters 1320, cachememories 1330, shared memories 1340 and hard disk drives 1350, and mayvary accordingly. The physical storage system 1300 is one example of aphysical storage system for which the virtual storage system can beimplemented thereon. The present invention is not limited to aparticular configuration of the physical storage system. According toother embodiments, the hard disk drives (HDD) 1350 can be replaced witha flash storage, RAM disks or rotated disk drives, for example. The hostcomputers 1380 can be the processor 124 or a separate computer, forexample. Further, the virtual storage system 100 can be implemented onany type of storage system such as a network-attached storage (NAS), astorage area network (SAN), or a distributed memory array.

According to one or more embodiments, the physical storage devices ofthe physical storage system 1300 as described above can be configured ina RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configuration. Further,the reliability of the data stored in the storage devices 126 of thevirtual storage system 100 can be stored in a redundant manner inredundant data centers using mirroring, remote copy, or the like. Theuse of redundant storage devices enables the data stored to beduplicated thereby preventing data loss.

When a user accesses the banking system 70 via a bank server, the usercan be automatically directed to the virtual storage system 100 whendesired.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the user computing device 50, bankingsystem 70 and virtual storage system 100 can be connected with eachother via the communication networks 60 and 80. According to oneembodiment, the user computing device 50 may occasionally connect to thecommunication network 60 while the banking system 70 and the virtualstorage system 100 may maintain a connection to the communicationnetworks 60 and 80. Further, in FIG. 4 the user computing device 50 andthe virtual storage system 100 are in direct communication with eachother over the communication network 80.

According to alternative embodiments, the virtual storage system 100 canbe included within the banking system 70 or the user computing device 50as installable software.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device 500illustrating components of the computing device 50, the banking system70 and the virtual storage system 100 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.5, the computing device 500 includes various components for inputting,outputting, storing and processing data. The computing device 500includes a processor 505 for performing tasks including executing one ormore applications, retrieving data from a storage device e.g., storage506, and/or outputting data. The processor 505 can be connected to aRandom access memory (RAM) module 508 wherein application data and/orinstructions may be temporarily stored. The computing device 500 canfurther includes a Read Only Memory (ROM) 509 configured to allow datastored thereon to persist after the computing device 500 is turned offand is used for storing an operating system (OS) of the computing device500. The storage device 506 may also provide storage for data files andmay include computer readable mediums e.g., disk drives, optical storagemediums e.g., CD ROM drives, magnetic tape storage systems, and flashmemory. The processor 505 is configured to retrieve an application fromthe storage 506 and store the instructions associated with theapplication in the RAM module 508, while the processor 505 is executingthe application. The computing device 500 further includes outputdevices e.g., a display device 510, and a speaker 512, for outputtingvisual and audio data via a display adapter 514 and an audio adapter515. Further, the computing device 500 includes input devices e.g., akeyboard 516, a storage media drive 518, and microphone each having anassociated adapter 519 for converting the input data into computerreadable data. The storage media drive 518 enables users to read andwrite data to and from the storage media.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the computing device 500 includes one ormore components for receiving and transmitting data over thecommunication networks 60 and 80. For example, a network adapter 520 isprovided for communication with one or more computing devices over an IPnetwork, for example, for transmission of data such as financial dataover a bank network. The network adapter 520 may include instructionsassociated with processing IP network packets and cellular networkpackets. The components of the computing device 500 are connected via asystem bus 530.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method 600 for illustrating amethod of selectively copying electronic documents into the virtualstorage system 100 of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention. The method 600 is implemented in software modules forexecution by the user computing device 50, the banking system 70 and thevirtual storage system 100.

In method 600, the online document retrieval and storage system (e.g.,the banking system 70) receives input data from the user at the usercomputing device 50 for requesting access to online account information(e.g., banking information). At operation 602, the user selects andviews an electronic document within a banking application of the bankingsystem 70 to be copied. From operation 602, the process continues tooperation 604, where the user selects a copy link within the electronicdocument to copy the electronic document. From operation 604, theprocess continues to operation 606 where the user views a plurality ofelectronic folders of the virtual storage system 100 in a folderselection dialog, to receive and store the electronic documents. Fromoperation 608, the process continues to operation 608 where the userselects a specific folder of the plurality of electronic folders forreceiving and storing the electronic document selected.

At operation 610 an optional format conversion process is performed onthe electronic document, whereby the electronic document is convertedfrom a first format such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) format toa second format such as portable document format (PDF), for copying andstoring.

Upon completion of the format conversion, the process continues tooperation 612 where the electronic document is encrypted within thevirtual storage system 100.

From operation 612 the process continues to operation 614 where theelectronic document is copied to the selected folder of the plurality ofelectronic folders (i.e., the electronic documents are stored in thestorage devices 126 of the virtual storage system 100).

The electronic document is accessible only by the user at the usercomputing device 50 via the banking system 70 according to oneembodiment, or via the virtual storage system 100 directly according toalternative embodiments. The electronic document copy and formatconversion operations are performed via the processor 124 of the virtualstorage system 100. According to one or more embodiments, the encryptionoperation may be performed in one storage location of the virtualstorage system 100 (e.g., a first data center), and the copyingoperation may be performed in another storage location (e.g., a seconddata center) of the virtual storage system 100.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, the copying ofelectronic documents can be performed automatically without user input.FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method 700 of automatically copyingelectronic documents into the virtual storage system of FIG. 1 accordingto one or more embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment,electronic documents are automatically copied from the external system(e.g., the banking system 70) into the virtual storage system 100 whenthe user has access rights to the virtual storage system 100. Atoperation 702, the process begins where an electronic documentassociated with a user (e.g., a banking statement) is processed at theexternal system (e.g., the banking system 70). The processing isperformed internally within the banking system 70. From operation 702,the process continues to operation 703, where it is determined whetherthe user has access rights to the virtual storage system 100. In one ormore embodiments, if the user is accessing the virtual storage system100 indirectly through the banking system 70, access rights of the usermay have been established by virtue of the user's access rights to thebanking system 70. Thus, a verification process may be performed by thevirtual storage system 100 at the banking system 70, via the secureconnection over the communication network 80. Alternatively, if the useris accessing the virtual storage system 100 directly via the usercomputing device, access rights of the user may be verified byperforming a multi-factor authentication process as discussed above Ifit is determine that the user does not have access rights to the virtualstorage system 100, the process ends.

If it is determined at operation 703 that the user has access rights,the process continues to operation 706, where it is determined whetherformat conversion of the electronic document is required. If it isdetermined at operation 706 that format conversion is required, theprocess continues to operation 708 where the optional format conversionprocess is performed on the electronic document, whereby the electronicdocument is converted from a first format such as Hyper Text MarkupLanguage (HTML) format to a second format such as portable documentformat (PDF), for copying and storing. According to one or moreembodiments, operation 708 is performed similar to operation 610 shownin FIG. 6.

Upon completion of the format conversion, the process continues tooperation 710 where the electronic document is encrypted within thevirtual storage system 100.

From operation 710, the process continues to operation 712 where theelectronic document is automatically copied to a selected folder of theplurality of electronic folders (i.e., the electronic documents arestored in the storage devices 126 of the virtual storage system 100).

The electronic document is accessible only by the user at the usercomputing device 50 via the banking system 70 according to oneembodiment, or via the virtual storage system 100 directly according toalternative embodiments. The electronic document copy and conversionoperations are performed via the processor 124 of the virtual storagesystem 100.

According to alternative embodiments, if it is determined at operation706 that format conversion is not required, the process bypassesoperation 708 and continues to operation 712 where the electronicdocument is copied to the virtual storage system 100.

According to alternative embodiments, if a user does not have accessrights, upon providing a user with access rights (e.g., by registrationprocess), all or a selection of electronic documents can beautomatically copied from the external system into the virtual storagesystem 100. For example, upon being granted access rights to the virtualstorage system 100, the user may be prompted to copy all or a selectionof their electronic documents from the external system (e.g., thebanking system 70) into the virtual storage system 100. If so, theelectronic documents will be automatically copied to the virtual storagesystem 100.

The present invention is described herein in terms of block components,screen shots, and optional selections and processing steps. It should beappreciated that the functional blocks may be realized by any number ofhardware and/or software components configured to perform the specifiedfunctions. For example, the present invention may employ variousintegrated circuits e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logicelements, look-up tables, and others which may perform the functionsunder the control of one or more processors or other control devices.The software components can be implemented with any programming orscripting language, with various algorithms implemented with datastructures, objects, processes, and other programming elements.

An exemplary process of the method of FIG. 6 will be described withreference to the screen shots shown in FIGS. 8 through 12.

As shown in FIG. 8, the screen shot 800 for a user to access bankinginformation via the user computing device 50. As shown, the user hasaccess to electronic statements at a link 802 via a dropdown window 403and the virtual storage system 100 via a link 804. The user also hasaccess to various other banking information and links for performingbanking transactions (e.g., a managed link accounts link). The screenshot 800 is implemented for example, via a web page for networktransmission. The web page may include standard HTML documents, andvarious forms JAVA® applets, active server pages (ASP), common gatewayinterface scripts (CGI), extensive markup language (SML), dynamic HTML,plugins, etc.

The user selects and views electronic statements (e.g., regular accountstatements, credit card billing statements, or loan statements), via thedropdown window 803, for example (operation 602 of FIG. 6).

FIG. 9 is a screen shot 900 of an electronic document 902 (e.g., acredit card billing statement) as selected by the user. The electronicdocument 902 includes a copy link 904 for copying the electronicdocument 902 as desired by the user. The user selects the copy link 904within the electronic document 902 to copy the electronic document(operation 604 of FIG. 6).

After selecting to copy the electronic document 902, the user views aplurality of electronic folders in a folder selection dialog as shown inFIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a screen shot 1000 of a folder selection dialog 1002 displaya plurality of electronic folders 1004 (e.g., a documents folder,finance folder, legal folder, other folder, and photos folder) forselection (operation 606 of FIG. 6). The user selects a specific folder(e.g., the documents folder 1004 a) of the plurality of electronicfolders 1004 for receiving and storing the electronic document 902(operation 608 of FIG. 6).

FIG. 11 is a screen shot 1100 showing a processing window 1102indicating that the electronic document 902 is being processed (e.g.,converted and/or copied). The electronic document 902 may optionally beconverted from the first format (e.g., HTML format) to the second format(e.g., PDF format) for storing in an electronic folder 1004. Accordingto one or more embodiments, the format conversion operation is anoptional processing step (as indicated by the dashed line) and thereforemay be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, as shown in screen shot 1200, the electronicdocument 902 is copied into the selected electronic folder (e.g., thedocuments folder 1004 a) of the plurality of folders 1004. The user isable to retrieve the electronic document 902 stored within the virtualstorage system 100 by accessing the banking system 70 via thecommunication network 60 and by accessing the virtual storage system 100via the communication network 80 or by accessing the virtual storagesystem 100 directly.

In view of the above, the present method embodiment may therefore takethe form of a computer or controller implemented processes andapparatuses for practicing those processes. This disclosure can also beembodied in the form of computer program code containing instructionsembodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, harddrives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when thecomputer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer orcontroller, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing theinvention. This disclosure may also be embodied in the form of computerprogram code or signal, for example, whether stored in a storage medium,loaded into and/or executed by a computer or controller, or transmittedover some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring orcabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation,wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by acomputer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing theinvention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, thecomputer program code segments configure the microprocessor to createspecific logic circuits. A technical effect of the executableinstructions is to implement the exemplary method described above.

According to one or more embodiments, a virtual storage system in datacommunication with a user computing device via a communication networkis provided. The virtual storage system includes at least one processorconfigured to process and copy electronic documents retrieved from anexternal system, and a plurality of redundant physical storage devicesin data communication with the at least one processor and eachconfigured to store the electronic documents retrieved from the externalsystem.

According to one or more embodiments, a method implemented by computersystem to effect the copying of electronic documents into a virtualstorage system in data communication via a communication network, withan online document retrieval and storage system is provided. The methodcomprising receiving input data at the online document retrieval andstorage system from a user at a computing device, via a communicationnetwork, requesting access to online account information, selecting andviewing an electronic document of the online account information to becopied, selecting a copy link within the electronic document, to copythe electronic document, viewing a plurality of electronic folders ofthe virtual storage system in a folder selection dialog, selecting viathe user, a specific folder of the plurality of electronic folders forreceiving and storing the electronic document selected, and copying theelectronic document to the specific folder.

According to one or more embodiments, a method implemented by a computersystem to effect the automatic copying of electronic documents into avirtual storage system in data communication via a communicationnetwork, with an online document retrieval and storage system isprovided. The method includes processing an electronic documentassociated with a user, at the online document retrieval and storagesystem, determining whether the user has access rights to the virtualstorage system, and automatically copying the electronic document to thevirtual storage system, when it is determined that the user has accessrights to the virtual storage system.

According to one or more embodiments, a computer readable medium storingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computingdevice to perform a method of copying electronic documents into avirtual storage system in data communication via a communicationnetwork, with an online document retrieval and storage system isprovided. The method comprising receiving input data at the onlinedocument retrieval and storage system from a user at a computing device,via a communication network, requesting access to online accountinformation, selecting and viewing an electronic document of the onlineaccount information to be copied, selecting a copy link within theelectronic document, to copy the electronic document, viewing aplurality of electronic folders of the virtual storage system in afolder selection dialog, selecting via the user, a specific folder ofthe plurality of electronic folders for receiving and storing theelectronic document selected, and copying the electronic document to thespecific folder.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that numerous modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It is intended that all such modifications fall within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A virtual storage system in data communicationwith a user computing device via a communication network, the virtualstorage system comprising: at least one processor configured to:process, encrypt and copy electronic documents retrieved from anexternal system; and a plurality of redundant physical storage devicesin data communication with the at least one processor and eachconfigured to store the electronic documents retrieved from the externalsystem.
 2. The virtual storage system of claim 1, further comprising: aweb interface configured to interface the virtual storage system withthe external system and the user computing device, via at least onecommunication network.
 3. The virtual storage system of claim 1, whereinthe external system comprises a web interface configured to interfacethe external system with the virtual storage system.
 4. The virtualstorage system of claim 1, wherein the user computing device comprises aweb application configured to interface the user computing device withthe virtual storage system, via the external system.
 5. The virtualstorage system of claim 1, wherein the user computing device comprises anative application configured to interface the user computing devicedirectly with the virtual storage system.
 6. The virtual storage systemof claim 1, wherein the external system is an online document retrievaland storage system.
 7. The virtual storage system of claim 3, whereinthe online document retrieval and storage system is a banking system andthe electronic document is a bank statement.
 8. The virtual storagesystem of claim 7, wherein the electronic document is configured to beconverted from a first format to a second format prior to being copiedto virtual storage system.
 9. The virtual storage system of claim 1,wherein the communication network is a wired network.
 10. The virtualstorage system of claim 1, wherein the communication network is awireless network.
 11. A method implemented by computer system to effectthe copying of electronic documents into a virtual storage system indata communication via a communication network, with an online documentretrieval and storage system, the method comprising: receiving inputdata at the online document retrieval and storage system from a user ata computing device, via a communication network, requesting access toonline account information; selecting and viewing an electronic documentof the online account information to be copied; selecting a copy linkwithin the electronic document, to copy the electronic document; viewinga plurality of electronic folders of the virtual storage system in afolder selection dialog; selecting via the user, a specific folder ofthe plurality of electronic folders for receiving and storing theelectronic document selected; encrypting the electronic document via thevirtual storage system; and copying the electronic document to thespecific folder of the plurality of electronic folders.
 12. The methodof claim 11, further comprising: converting the electronic document froma first format to a second format prior to encrypting the electronicdocument.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the online documentretrieval and storage system is a banking system and the electronicdocument is a bank statement.
 14. A method implemented by computersystem to effect the automatic copying of electronic documents into avirtual storage system in data communication via a communicationnetwork, with an online document retrieval and storage system, themethod comprising: processing an electronic document associated with auser, at the online document retrieval and storage system; determiningwhether the user has access rights to the virtual storage system;encrypting the electronic document via the virtual storage system whenit is determined that the user has access rights, and automaticallycopying the electronic document to the virtual storage system.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising: converting the electronicdocument from a first format to a second format prior to encrypting theelectronic document.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein determiningwhether the user has access rights comprises: verifying user accessrights at the online document retrieval and storage system via thevirtual storage system over the communication network, when the user isindirectly accessing the virtual storage system via the online documentretrieval and storage system; or performing a multi-factorauthentication process when the user is directly accessing the virtualstorage system.
 17. A computer readable medium storing computerexecutable instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device toperform a method of copying electronic documents into a virtual storagesystem in data communication via a communication network, with an onlinedocument retrieval and storage system, the method comprising: receivinginput data at the online document retrieval and storage system from auser at a computing device, via a communication network, requestingaccess to online account information; selecting and viewing anelectronic document of the online account information to be copied;selecting a copy link within the electronic document, to copy theelectronic document; viewing a plurality of electronic folders of thevirtual storage system in a folder selection dialog; selecting via theuser, a specific folder of the plurality of electronic folders forreceiving and storing the electronic document selected; encrypting theelectronic document via the virtual storage system; and copying theelectronic document to the specific folder of the plurality ofelectronic folders.
 18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, themethod further comprising: converting the electronic document from afirst format to a second format prior to encrypting the electronicdocument.
 19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein theonline document retrieval and storage system is a banking system and theelectronic document is a bank statement.
 20. The computer readablemedium of claim 17, wherein the communication network is a wirelessnetwork.